Stories for 2010

Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 22:18 UTC
Book on Chavez in prison, “I saw him cry”, triggers controversy

A Venezuelan historian and academic presented the book ‘I saw him cry’ in which he affirms that President Hugo Chavez was crying, fearful and pleading to be sent to Cuba on April 11, 2002 during the coup that had him out of office for several days. He also insists there was no plan to have Chavez shot by a firing squad as the ‘official version” of events has since turned into epic days.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:30 UTC
Chile ski resorts still waiting for snow to begin winter season

Though Chilean ski resorts were ready to begin the winter season more than a week ago, the slopes cannot be opened due to lack of snow. A lack of rain in the region has been blamed. The central and southern region of Chile has had a low level of rain this year, causing opening delays for some centres.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:28 UTC
Lula da Silva says “espionage plot” on opposition candidate is a ‘set up’

Brazilian president Lula da Silva talked for the first time about the alleged espionage plot against opposition presidential candidate Jose Serra and described the whole operation as an ‘absurd set up’ with electoral purposes.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:22 UTC
Chile sues banks that cooperated in hiding Pinochet ill-gotten fortune

The widow of (deceased) former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, Lucia Hiriart; the dictator’s private secretary, Monica Ananias; and his executor, Oscar Aitken, were summoned this week to a Santiago criminal court pursuant to a warrant from the Southern District Court of Florida, United States.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:20 UTC
Global economic reforms impeded by China’s Yuan policy, claims US

Global economic reforms are being impeded by China's refusal to revalue its currency, the Yuan, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said. Addressing the US Senate Committee on Finance he said that distortions caused by China's stance were “an impediment to the global rebalancing we need”.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:17 UTC
Brazil-Paraguay discussions to review the Itaipú Treaty are ‘done and over’

For Brazil the renegotiation of the Itaipú dam treaty between Brazil and Paraguay ‘is over’ following on last year’s declaration of Presidents Lula da Silva and Fernando Lugo, said Marco Aurelio García the Brazilian president main advisor in international affairs.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 07:04 UTC
Beginning of the end to Argentine pickets blocking bridge leading to Uruguay

Argentina has filed criminal and civil charges against activists who have been blocking a bridge leading to Uruguay for over four years, announced on Wednesday cabinet chief Anibal Fernandez. The charges mark a sharp departure from the hands-off line taken up to now with the activists.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 07:02 UTC
Uruguay ranks as the most peaceful country in Latinamerica

Figures published this week by the Global Peace Index, GPI, show homicide rates and violent crime had increased around the world, particularly in Latin America, where levels of peacefulness showed the biggest slip over the past 12 months. According to that criteria Uruguay (24) ranks as the most peaceful country of the region and Colombia (138) the most violent out of a world total of 149.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 06:55 UTC
Bolivia votes ‘native justice’; four policemen lynched by indigenous mobs

The Bolivian Lower House dominated by President Evo Morales party approved this week the Judiciary Bill which contemplates “native or indigenous justice” which has been strongly criticized since it opened the door to the lynching of policemen in two different incidents.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 06:52 UTC
Cuba is coffee dry: the country has become a net importer of the bean

Cuban coffee production tumbled 90% in the last few years forcing the government of President Raul Castro to spend 50 million US dollars annually in importing the beans to ensure domestic consumption revealed the official weekly Trabajadores.